Grab



March 7, 1933. J. GEIST 1,900,179

GRAB

Filed Aug. 19, 1931 Joseph 6.115%

INVENTOR',

.QQ Attorney.

Patented Mar. 7, 1933' UNITED STATES JOSEPH GEIS'I, F KRAIBURG-ON-THE-INN, GERMANY GRAB Application filed August 19, 1931, Serial No. 558,085, and in Germany December 3, 1930.

This invention relates generally to grappling irons and has for its purpose to pro vide an improved device of this character which is extremely simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and eflicient in operation.

Grappling irons of the type contemplated by my invention comprise a pair of pivotally interconnected jaws or tongs having arms extending beyond the point of pivotal interconnection and the primary object of my invention is to enhance the gripping action of the jaws so that such jaws may, for example, hold open receptacles in inclined position without spilling their contents.

I accomplish this object by extending the upper arm of one jaw further beyond the pivotal connection of the two jaws than the upper arm of the other j aw extends and cor- 2o respondingly increasing the length of the link opposite the longer arm in the lever system of the grapple, so as to bring the pull on the shackle in an approximate vertical line with respect to the pivotal connection of the two jaws or tongs of the grapple.

One embodiment of my invention is described in the following specification, set forth in the appended claims and illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing in which the figure represents a side elevational view of my improved grapple or lever grip tongs, the open position thereof being shown in full lines, while the closed position is indicated in dotted lines.

25 Referring to the drawing, 1 and 2 respectively denote two grab jaws or tongs pivotally connected by a pin 3 and provided with upper arms 4 and 5, the arm 5 being of greater length than the arm 4. The outer end of arm 5 is pivotally connected to pivot pin 6 at one end of a link 8, which is carried by a shackle 7 for the lifting cable. Between the shackle 7 and arm 5 the link 8 carries a pin 10 upon which one end of a link'9 is pivotally connected, the opposite end thereof being pivotally mounted on the free end of the upperarm 4 of jaw 2. v

It will be noted that the shackle 7 is disposed, throughout any movement of the jaws 1 and 2, to lie along the longitudinal axis of.

1 the grapple and in line with the pivotal point 3 of the two jaws 1 and 2.

A hook 11 is carried at the outer free end of link 8 and provided with a handle 12, the hook being arranged to engage about one end of the link 9 when the jaws are in their full open position. In this way the jaws remain open until it is desired to apply the gripping action of the jaws to the article to be lifted, whereupon the hook is simply disengaged by 6 raising it by means of its handle 12.

In accordance with my invention,it is particularly pointed out that the arm 5 and link 9 of the grapple are each greater in length than that of the corresponding arm 4 and-6 link 8. This insures a condition which makes it possible throughout the operation to displace the pivotal point of the shackle 7 along the longitudinal axis of the grapple and as a consequence to always maintain a true up-f 7 0 right position of the grapple when the latter is lifted.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1 1. In a grapple of the character described, the combination of a pair of jaws pivotally connected together, each jaw having an upper arm projecting beyond the pivotal con nection, the upper arm of one jaw being longer than theupper arm of the other jaw, a link pivotally connected to the free end of the longer arm, a second link pivotally mounted at one end on the free end of the shorter arm and at the opposite end to the first link at a point spaced from the pivoted endthereof approximately the length of the shorter arm, and a shackle mounted on the first link at a point beyond the pivotal connection thereof with the second link, whereby:

in any position of the jaws the pivotal points of the shackle and jaws will always fall along the longitudinal axis thereof and maintain the grapple in a true upright position.

5 2. A grapple as claimed in claim 1, in which the free end of the first link beyond the shackle carries a hook capable of engaging the end of the second link adjacent its pivotal connection with the shorter arin to look the jaws in their open position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOSEPH GEIST. 

